Knitting machinery



1938; J. MORT-ON ET AL 1 KNITTING MACHINERY Filed Nov. 12, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

Jami 25,1938. J. MORTON ETAL I 2,106,434.

KNITT ING MACHINERY Filed Nov. '12, 1956 4-Sheets-Sheet 2' I A OBNEYSJan. 25, 1938. J. MORTON ET AL KNITTING MACHINERY Filed No v. 12, 1956'4 Sheets-Sheet 3 umw mm /./X mm G Q WM, F Wm M ME V17 mom ws Jan. 25,1938. .1. MORTON ET AL KNITTI'NG MACHINERY Filed Nov. 12, 1936 4Sheets-Sheef 4 INVENTOKS 177027-04 BY 7 2 flflmm/ ATTORNEYS PatentedJan. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES 2.106.434 xmrrme mommy James Morton and 1mmStewart Erskine Hi..- y, 031M810, 1881811013 in F. N- F- Limlted, PurleyWay, Croydon, England, a

British company Application November 12, 193s, Serial No. 110,540 InGreat Britain February ,21, 193$ 13 Claims.

This invention .relates to warp knitting machines and particularly topatterning mechanism for such machines.

In a warp knitting machine, as usually con- 5 structed, the warps areled to the knittingneedles by warp guides. These warp guides are usuallymounted side by side in groups, or so-called sections, and each sectionis attached to a carrying bar usually called a guide bar. One or moresuch guide bars may be provided in the machine,

according to the nature of the work that the machine is intended toperform, and several of the aforesaid sections are attached to the guidebar or to each guide bar. The guide bar or each guide bar is arranged toundergo two kinds of motion, namely, a rocking motion about alongitudinal axis extending within or outside the guide bar, whichresults in the warp guides being moved to and fro in planes between theknitting needles, and endwise patterning or shogging motion along orparallel to the said axis, which results in the warp guides being movedto and fro parallel to a plane containing the knitting needles. Theefiect of these two motions is to lap the warps or selected warps on theneedles. The present invention has particular reference to mechanism forimparting this patterning motion to the guide bar or bars in a warpknitting machine.

The patterning motion of a guide bar in a warp 30 knitting machineserves two functions. The first of these functions is the bringing ofthe threads across the needles in a predetermined direction so that theneedles may draw the loops in the threads, and the second function isthe selective 35 association of the several threads with needlesselected in accordance with a predetermined pattern. Thus, one componentof the patterning motion of a guide bar may result in a warp guidecarrying its respective warp over a certain needle so 40 that the needlecan drawa loop in the warp and another component of the movement of thewarp guide may result in the warp being carried to another needle overwhich the warp is eventually carried, so that a. loop in the warp isdrawn by that needle. In this case the warp is formed into a stitch onone needle during one cycle of movement of the needles, and then duringa subsequent cycle of movement of the needles it is formed into a stitchon another needle displaced from the 50 first needle by one or moreneedle pitches, the second stitch being in a different row to stitchesin the fabric being formed. The warp may then be carried back to thefirst needle or it may be carried to another needle according to thepattern 55 that is desired. When more than one guide bar is employed;the patterning motions of the bars. may take place individually andselectively, while the rocking motions take place in unison. 4

In certain warp knitting machines, pattern cam wheels are provided whichare driven intermit- 6 tently. This arrangement allows substantial roomatthe circumference of each wheel for the active "cam formation.However, such an inter-- mittent drive, owing to the recurringstarts-and stops involved with consequential high inertia 1oforce's,'cannot practicably be operated at high speeds. Thus, usually,the patterning mechanism of a high speed warp knitting machine comprisesa single pattern cam wheel or cam chain for each guide bar, the cammember being continuously '1 driven. In attempting to obtain very highspeeds of operation in warp knitting machines, it is found that theoperation of the patterning mechanism in the usual manner constitutes alimitingfactor. This is due to the fact that in order to impart, acomparatively long patterning movement to a guide bar, the camenlargement or other active formation occupies a substantial length ofthe cam member, with the result that the number of displacementeffecting formations available on Y a given size of cam wheel isundesirably small, or in the case of a cam chain the additional lengthand necessary increased strength render it unwieldy and prevent its useat very high speeds.

The invention aims at providing patterning mechanism adapted to operatethe warpguides at higher speeds than heretofore, without detracting fromthe uniformity of motion or the general efficiency of operation of thewarp guides.

One object of the invention consists in a patterning mechanismcomprising in combination a cam member, a guide bar, an intermediatemember interposed between said cam member and said guide bar, supportingmeans for said intermediate member, adapted to permit movement of thelat- 40 ter in two intersecting paths, said cam member being operativeto impart movement in one of said paths to said intermediate member andthe latter being operative when so moved to impart movement to saidguide bar, and means operative to impart movement in the other of saidpaths to said intermediate member, the latter being arranged, when movedin the last-mentioned path,

to effect a movement of said guide bar separate from or in conjunctionwith that due to the movement ofsaid intermediate member in saidflrstmentioned path. Another object of the invention consists inpatterning mechanlsm'comprising in'combination a wedge member,supporting'means for said wedge '55 member adapted to permit movement ofthe latter in the path of movement of the guide bar and in a second pathwhich is transverse to said firstmentioned path, means for moving saidwedge member selectively and periodically in said paths,

said wedge member being formed with an inclined surface operativelyassociated with said guide bar and arrranged, when said wedge member, ismoved in said second path, to impart longitudinal movement to the guidebar, while said wedge member is arranged, when moved in saidfirst-mentioned path, also to impart longitudinal movement to the guidebar.

A further object of the invention consists in patterning mechanismcomprising in combination a tappet mounted for longitudinal movement, asecond tappet mounted for longitudinal movement in a path which istransverse to the path of movement of .said first-mentioned tappet, aknitting cam arranged to impart longitudinal movement to saidfirst-mentioned tappet, a pattern cam arranged to impart longitudinalmovement to said second-mentioned tappet, and

means for integrating the movements of said tappets and imparting theintegrated movement to the guide bar. I

Yet another object of the invention consists in patterning mechanismcomprising in combination a cam, an intermediate cam follower throughthe medium of which said cam is operative to act upon said guide bar toimpart movement to the latter, and means for moving said follower to andfro in a direction transversely to the direction to which movement isimparted by said cam to said guide bar,- whereby the rate at whichmovement is transmitted from said cam to said guide bar is varied.

The term cam" herein used is intended to cover and include any camor-other equivalent extent of a knitting needle pitch, while the othercam, namely, the pattern cam, may be arranged to impart a predeterminedsequence of motions of extents according to a predetermined pattern.

By virtue of the invention, patterning mechanism for a warp knittingmachine may include cams formed with enlargements or lobes which are notunduly steep and arranged so as to displace their associated members athigh speed to any extent that is desired in practice. I

More particularly defined, the invention consists in patterningmechanism comprising in eombination a pattern controlling memberarranged to undergo continuous movement during the oneration of themachine, a stitch controlling member arranged to undergo continuousmovement during the operation of the machine. and a member which isoperatively associated with the warp guides and is arranged to be causedjointly by said pattern controlling member and said stitch controllingmember to undergo cyclic movements whereby'said guides are caused toundergo the lateral movements necessary for stitches to be- ,formed onselected needles.

The invention further comprisesthe elements and combinations of partsset forth in the annexed claims.

In order that the invention may be clearly ment.

understood and readily carried into effect, two constructions inaccordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional plan of patterning mechanism involving the useof a pattern cam and a knitting cam for each of a plurality of guidebars, only a portion of each cam being shown;

Figure 2 shows a constructional detail, viewed in the direction of thearrow 11 in Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 respectively, are views (with parts broken away) in thedirections of the arrows III and IV of Figure 1, these views being drawnto a smaller scale than Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a portion of Figure 4, Figure 5 beingdrawn to substantially the same scale as Figure 1:

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan of a modified construction of patterningmechanism; ant? Figure 7 is a detail view taken in the direction of thearrow VII in Figure 6.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 5, the patterning mechanism thereinshown includes a pattern cam l and a knitting cam II for each guide barl2, there being three guide bars in the warp knitting machine whosepatterning mechanism is shown. The cams are constituted by cam wheelswhich are rotated at constant speed,

. the assembly of knitting cams being driven at a cam shaft I6, andanother worm I1 meshing with a worm wheel l8 on the knitting cam shaftis. A stationary casing 20 is disposed between the pattern cam i II andthe respective guide bar. In this casing are-mounted three superposedassemblies of motion-transmitting parts, each of these assembliesincluding a tapped; 2| co-operating with the pattern cam, a tappet 22arranged at right angles to the first-mentioned tappet and cooperatingwith the knitting cam, and a tappet 23 arranged opposite to and inalignment'with the tappet 2| and co-operating with an adjustableabutment 24 on the respective guide bars. These tappets consist of rodsslidably mounted in the casing and rollers at opposite ends of the rods,except that the tappet 23 has no roller at the end whichcontacts withthe aforesaid abut- Each assembly of motion-transmitting parts alsoincludes a pivotal member 25 which is carried between centre screw pins25b and which bears against the tappet 22 of the knitting cam. Thepivotal member has a convex track 25a (Figure against which bearsa-concave roller 26 on a wedge-shaped block 21. This block is maintainedin engagement with its track by a resilient thrust device comprisinganother roller 28, which bears upon the interior of the casing and has amounting 28 in telescopic relationship with the block, and acompression-spring 30 disposed between the mounting 29 and the block.The pivotal member constitutes, in effect, a motionmultiplying lever,which receives its motion from the knitting cam tappet 22 and impartssuch motion, multiplied, to the block 21. The opposed wedge faces of theblock 21 bear against the opposed tappets 2 I, 22 of the pattern cam andof the I guide bar, these faces and tappets being kept ininter-engagement by the guide bar's return spring The driving mechanismcomprises a 3|, which acts through a chain 32 round a pulley 33 (Figures1 and 2).

The arrangement of each of the three superposed assemblies is such that,on actuation only of the tappet 22 of the knitting cam, the block 21 Iis forced, through the intermediary of the pivotal member 25, to movewedge-wise between the .guide bar.

opposed tappets 2|, 23. Since, as regards the tappets 2| and 23, theformer is prevented by its cam ID from moving under the wedge action,the.

tappet 23 alone is moved and accordingly forces the guide bar l2 to movewith it. On actuation of both tappets 2|, 22 by their cams, the movementdue to the pattern cam is added positively or negatively to that due tothe knitting cam, the sum of these movements being imparted to the Thefunction of each knitting cam H is to im'- part, for everystitch-formation a short lateral motion of the extent of a knittingneedle pitch. Owing to the wedge faces of the block 21 being limited inlength, there is a limit to the number of times in succession that amovement in a given direction can be effected if the cam only were toact. If it is desired to continue the movement beyond this limit theblock 21 must be returned to the starting position, compensation beingprovided by a suitable step on cam III. This operpredetermined accordingto the pattern. That is to say, the warp threads guided by therespective guides 34 are displaced from one needle across one ormoreadjacent needles for engagement thereby during the nextstitch-forming operation.

Thus, each knitting .cam H, which, as previously mentioned, rotatesfaster than its associated pattern cam It), gives effect to the knittingshog of the corresponding guide bar, i. e. the shog which results in thewarp threads being carried over their needles and which has to takeplace very quickly indeed. Further, the pattern cam I gives effect tothe pattern shog of the guide bar, i. e. the shog which results in thewarp threads being carried under the needles and which has a longer timeavailable for it so that it can be provided for by a reasonably shapedstep on the pattern cam; It will be understood that one step or lobe ona knitting cam always corresponds to a shog across one needle as it isnever tern cam for the bar-displacing formations thereon, andtheseiormations can be designed with tappet displacing surfaces, which'are not unduly steeply inclined.

The provision of both cams ||l and each of which is, as usual,interchangeable with any other appropriately designed cam, affords awide variety of patterning motions. An additional advantage is that thepatterning motions derived from any bar) of a warp knitting machine.

two given cams can be varied by adjusting the angular or phaserelationship between the cams.

Referring now to Figures 6 and '7, the modified v construction ofpatterning mechanism therein diagrammatically illustrated involves theuse of a cam 40 for the guide bar (or foreach guide A cam follow erconsisting of a member 4| and roller '42 thereon is interposed betweenthe cam and its tappet, which consists of a roller 43 on a member 44operatively associated with the guide bar and adapted to impartpatterning motion thereto,.di-

. rectly or indirectly. The member 4| extends be yond the cam 40, andthe roller 42 rides upon the cam face. The follower member 4| presents acurvedsurface 4|a which is substantially concentric with the cam 4|),and upon this surface bears the roller 43 of the tappet. The member 4|has pin-and-slot connections at 45' with an arm 45 which is journalledon the cam shaft 46 the cam 40 and the tappet 43, 44. The rod 4|receives the requisite motion, in the construction shown, from aneccentric 48, which is keyed to a shaft 49 through the intermediary ofmechanism consisting of an eccentric rod 50 and a bellcrank lever 5|having a stationary fulcrum at 52.

a worm shaft 53 which is connected to the shaft 49. through bevel gearwheels 54 and to the cam shaft 46 through worm gearing 55. In theconstruction shown, the gear ratio is such that the pattern cam turnsthrough one revolution while the eccentric 48 turns through twenty-fourrevolutions; that is, twenty-four stitches are knitted per revolution ofthe pattern cam. The cam shown is adapted to shog the guide barregularly to and fro across two knitting needles.

* The timing of the eccentric .48 in relation to the cam 40 is such thatwhena cam enlargement is passing the roller 42 of the follower, theeccentric acts to move the follower around the cam 40 in the directionopposite to the motion of the enlargement.- Meantime, the follower 4|,42 slides along the guide slots in its carrying arm 45, first away fromand then towards the cam axis, and transmits the requisite motion to thetappet 43, 4 across which the follower-slides. The follower is given itsreturn movement" after the enlargement has passed beyond it.

.It will be clear that, in the construction according to Figures 6 and7, provision is made whereby the cam 40 can impart a quick movement ofsubstantial length without involving the use of a cam enlargement, orother follower-disjplacing formation, which is undesirably steep.

The need for some provision (or for some alternative provision) will bemanifest if one were to suppose, for example, that there is one inch ofthe periphery of a cam Wheel available per cycle, and that during thecycle the wheel is required to move its tappet or other follower to theextent of 1 of an inch. .Owing to knitting and otheroperations, however,the whole of the cycle is not free for this movement, an angle of aboutThe cam shaft is continuously rotatable from the shaft 49 through theintermediary of 30 degrees only being available during which themovement must take place. An angle of 30 degrees, if the wheel isrotating at constant speed, represents 30/360 inch in the example underconsideration, i. e. of an inch. That is to say, the shape of the cammust be such that a rise of ofan inch takes place in-a length of of aninch. Such a shape would be undesirably steep. a

[If th' construction according to Figures 6 and '7 \were applied to theforegoing suppositious exmple the cam follower 4|, 42 could be moved atucna rateas to spread the period of cam operationflover approximately ofan inch, in which event the cam enlargement would be acomparativeligentle rise of of an inch in a length of of an inch.

It will be clear that an arrangement such as .illustrated by Figures 6and 7 can either be em- 'bodied in an arrangement including also aknitexample, as regards the construction illustrated by Figures 1 to 5,the wedge device can be replaced by an equivalent device, such as atoggle linkage, the toggle links being connected at their distal ends tothe tappets 2|, 23 and having a roller or rollers at their proximal endscorresponding to the rollers 26. As regards the con structionillustrated by Figures 6 andfl, a cam may be used in place of theeccentric 48,- which cam can be proportioned so as to enable the periodof cam operation in the foregoing:suppositious example, to be spreadover the entire cycle. distance of one inch. Further, the eccentric 48(or corresponding cam) can be geared to the cam shaft 46 to turn at arotational speed any required number of times faster than the speed atwhich the cam shaft is rotated.

We claim:-

1..Mechanism for imparting patterning motion to a guidebar in a 'warpknitting machine, said mechanism comprising in combination a cam, anintermediate camfollower through the medium of which said cam isoperative to act upon the guide bar to impart movement to the latter,and means interconnecting said cam and said follower for movingsimultaneously in timed relation with said cam said follower to and froin a direction transversely to the direction in which movement isimparted by said cam to the guide bar, whereby the rate at whichmovement is transmitted from said cam to the guide bar is varied 2.Mechanism for imparting patterning motion to a guide bar in a warpknitting machine, said mechanism comprising in combination a .camrotatable about an axis, a cam follower inwarp knitting machine, saidmechanism comprising in combination a rotatable member formed with aperlpheral cam surface and ar- .ranged to rotate about a fixed axispassing through said member, means for rotating said member about saidaxis at constant angular velocity, a cam follower operatively associatedwith the guide bar, a guide member for said cam follower arranged topermit said cam follower to be moved to and fro under the control ofsaid cam surface, the arrangement being such that the to and fromovements are imparted to the guide bar, and means forimparting to saidguide member oscillating movement in an arcuate path about said axis sothat the angular movement of said rotatable member relatively to saidcam follower is of a fluctuating nature.

4. Mechanism for imparting patterning motion to a longitudinally movableguide bar in a warp knitting machine, said mechanism comprising incombination a rotatable member formed with a peripheral cam surface andarranged to rotate about a fixed axis passing through said member, meansfor rotating said member about said axis at constant angular velocity, acam follower operatively associated with the guide bar, a guide memberfor said cam follower arranged to permit said cam follower to be movedto and fro under the control of said cam surface, the arrangement beingsuch thatthe to and fro movements are imparted to the guide bar, asecond rotatable member operatively connected to said guide member andarranged, when rotated, to impart to said guide member oscillatingmovement in an arcuate path about said axis so that the angular movementof said rotatable member relatively to said cam follower is of afluctuating nature and means for rotating said second rotatable ,memberat constant angular velocity.

5. Mechanism for imparting patterning motion to a guide bar 1!? a warpknitting machine,'said mechanism comprising in combination a memberformed with a cam surface and mounted for movement, a cam followerinterposed between said member and the guide bar and mounted formovement in two intersecting paths, one of said paths being along saidcam surface and said member being adapted to impart movement to theguide bar by moving said cam follower in the 7. Mechanism for impartingpatterning motion to a guide bar in a warp knitting machine, saidmechanism comprising in combination a cam mounted for rotation about afixed axis and formed with a cam surface comprising circumferentialportions and inclined portions, a cam follower mountedin engagement withsaid cam surface and adapted to be both oscillated about said axis andreciprocated towards and away from said axis, said cam follower beingoperative when r'eciprocated as-aforesaid to impart equivalent movementsto the guide bar, means for imparting uniform rotary motion to said cam,and means for oscillating said cam follower about said axis so that theeffective steepness of said inclined portion of said cam surface isvaried.

8. Mechanism for imparting patterning motion to a guide bar-in a warpknitting machine, said mechanism comprising in combination a I terposedbetween said cam and the guide bar, a a support forsaid cam followermounted for oscil-.

lation about said axis and arranged to permit movement of said camfollower towards and away from said axis, said cam follower beingadapted for movement by said cam towards and away from said axis andadapted to impart such movement to the guide bar, and means for movingsaid support about said axis whereby the action of said cam-on the guidebar is varied.

9. In mechanism for imparting patterning motion to a guide bar in a warpknitting machine, the combination of a cam rotatable about an axis, atappet mounted for reciprocation towards and away from said cam andadapted to transmit reciprocating motion to the guidebar, acam followerinterposed between said cam and said tappet, a support for said camfollower arranged to permit movement of said cam follower towards andaway from said axis and about said axis, said cam follower being adaptedfor movement by said cam towards and away from said axis and adapted toimpart such movements throughsaid tappet to the guide bar, and one ofthe pair of members constituted by said tappet and said cam followerbeing formed with an arcuate surfacehav ing its centre in the vicinityof said axis while the other of said pair of members is adapted to makeline contact with said arcuate surface.

10. Mechanism for imparting patterning motion to a guide bar in a warpknitting machine, said mechanism comprising in combination a camrotatable about an axis, a tappet mounted for reciprocation towards andaway from said cam for transmitting longitudinal movements to said guidebar, a cam follower adapted to make rollaxis whereby the action of saidcam on the guide bar is varied. '11. Mechanism for imparting patterningmotion to a guide bar in a warp knitting machine,

said mechanism comprising in combination a rotatable member formed witha peripheral cam surface and arranged to rotate 'abouta-fixed axispassing through said member, means for rotating said member about saidaxis at constant angular velocity, a cam follower including both a mem-Ber, formed at one end with an arcuate surface having its centre in thevicinity of said axis, and a roller mounted in contact with said camsurface at the end of said follower member remote from said arcuatesurface, a tappet for transmitting reciprocatory motion to the guidebar, said tappet, including" 'a roller contacting with said arcuatesurface, a support for said cam follower mounted for oscillation aboutsaid axis and adapted to permit said cam follower to be'moved towardsand away from said axis by said cam surface to impart reciprocatorymotion to said 'tappet, and means for imparting continuous oscillatingmotion to said support about said axis.

12. Mechanismfor imparting patterning motion to a longitudinal movableguide bar in a warp knitting machine, said mechanism comprising incombination a cam mounted for r0ta-" tion about a fixed axis, a camfollower in contactwith said cam for imparting longitudinal movements tothe guide bar under the controlof said cam, a support for said camfollower mounted for oscillation about said axis and adapted to permitsaid cam follower to be moved towards and away from said axis under theinfluence of said cam, and means for imparting simultaneously andcontinuously rotary motion to said cam and oscillating motion to saidsupport. I

13. Mechanism for imparting patterning mo-' tion to a'longitudinalmovable guide bar in a warp knitting machine, said mechanism comprisingin combination a cam mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, a camfollower in contact with said cam for imparting longitudinal movementsto the guide bar under the control of said cam, a support for said camfollower mounted for oscillation about said axis and adapted to permitsaid cam follower to be moved towards and away from said axis under theinfluence of said cam, means for imparting uniform rotary motion to saidcam, and means including an eccentric for imparting oscillating motion'to said support.

JAMES MORTON.

ROBERT STEWART ERSKINEHANNAY. I

